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Small Producers Initiative

Workshops

Upcoming

May 17, 2024 | Soil Health & Grazing School

Cows in a field congregating around a pickup truck

On May 17, the Small Producers Initiative (SPI) will host Holistic Management International (HMI) staff and SPI Director, Dr. Ken Mix, at a day long workshop on soil health and regenerative agriculture. The workshop will begin with field activities at SKM Homestead, including: 

  • Field observations and assessments
  • Differences in grazing concentrations: daily moves, multiple daily moves and ultra-high density
  • Soil health metrics such as infiltration rates, forage Brix, worm casting counts, soil color indicators and aggregate stability
  • Understanding changes in biomass and microbial diversity

Afternoon lectures will provide information on:

  • The tenets of soil health and how to achieve them
  • How to build resilient soils on your farm without fertilizer
  • Understanding the value of microbes and how to get more from them
  • Grazing practices, nutrient and water management & more!

Cost: $20

Lunch will be provided, and directions will be sent to workshop participants prior to the event.

Please register for this event by noon on May 16, 2024. To register, click here.

To download a flyer for this event, please click here.

TWO SPECIAL WORKSHOPS IN EL PASO!

May 31, 2024 | Regenerative Strategies for Pecan Orchards

Eveler Farms Photo

Join us on May 31 at Eveler Farms as we explore management strategies at this beautiful pecan and cotton farm in Clint, TX. We will showcase drip irrigation and moisture management in orchards, guiding soil health principles, the importance of the microbiome, nutrient delivery options, marketing, equipment. This event will run from 9:00-3:00, feature a grower panel of pecan producers and include lunch.

Cost: $10 

Detailed directions will be sent to workshop participants a few days prior to the event.

Please register for this event by noon on May 30, 2024. To register, click here.

To download a flyer for this event, please click here.

June 1, 2024 | Soil Health and Resilience for Diversified Produce Farms

Bodega Loya Socorro, TX

On Saturday, June 1, we will be at Bodega Loya, a unique, community-based farm and boutique in Socorro, TX. 

This on-farm field day will cover the use of high tunnels to expand growing seasons, crop rotation and sustainable management practices for small farms, soil health principles and a panel discussion on diverse topics such as direct marketing to consumers and developing community food and agricultural programs. The workshop will run from 9:00-3:00 and include a farm-to-table lunch.

Cost: $10

Detailed directions will be sent to workshop participants a few days prior to the event. 

Please register for this event by noon on May 30, 2024. To register, click here.

To download a flyer for this event, please click here.

Online Beekeeping Course with Two Hives Honey

Small Producers Initiative at Texas State University has been awarded a U.S. Department of Agriculture 2501 grant to support participants receiving Two Hives Honey's online beekeeping course (for eligibility, see here: USDA - Frequently Asked Questions 2501 Program). The online course will help you prepare and better understand if beekeeping is right for you.
 
To receive access to the course you must complete the following:
1. Complete the application (see the link at the end of this post).
2. Complete a pre-test to assess your knowledge of bees and beekeeping.
3. Pay a $20 invoice provided by Two Hives Honey (the USDA grant requires participants to pay a portion of the total course cost.  The regular cost of this program is  $75.)
 
You will also receive a post-test after completion of the course to assess your knowledge gained from the course.
 
Applications are available here.
 
Download a flyer for the event here.

Past Workshops

  • Soil Building for Resilience on Diversified Farms, March 1 2024
  • Urban Farming Field Day in Houston, TX, January 11, 2024
  • Community Ag Field Day in Freeport, TX, December 8, 2023
  • Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture, Virtual, October 17, 2023
  • Soil Health Demo Day, Farmshare Austin, TX, September 21, 2023
  • Soil Health and Agri-System Resilience, Fentress TX, June 15, 2023
  • Feed Your Soil Urban Farming Workshop at San Antonio Food Bank, San Antonio, TX, February 15, 2023
  • Cover Cropping for Organic Vegetable Growers at Farmshare Austin, October 27, 2022
  • 5 Essentials for Marketing Your Small Farm w/ Zoe Schaeffer, October 13, 2022
  • Making the Most of Online Platforms, October 10, 2022
  • Info Session on Grants & Loans with National Young Farmers Coalition, October 5, 2022
  • Talking Urban Soil Health, September 10, 2022 at Garcia Street Urban Farm in San Antonio, TX
  • Conscious Conservation & Cover Cropping Workshop, June 4, 2022 at S3 Legacy Ranch in Luling, TX
  • Summer Cover Cropping Class, May 14, 2022 at Mesquite Field Farm in Nixon, TX
  • Small Farm "DIY" Marketing Workshop, November 10, 2021 w/ Dr. Taewon Suh & EIG
  • Small Farm Marketing Strategies & Tools, August 8, 2021
  • FSA Loans, January 18, 2020
  • Parasite Detection in Small Ruminants, January 18, 2020 & November 2, 2019
  • Optimizing Your Land's Relationship to Water, August 11, 2019
  • Implementing SNAP Incentive Programs at Farmers Markets, August 11, 2019
  • From Books to Banks: Maximizing Your Farm Capital, August 11, 2019
  • FSMA/Food Safety Workshops, August 11, 2019